Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
Home
Research at the Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center focuses on providing the scientific understanding and technologies needed to support and implement sound management and conservation of our Nation's biological resources occurring in Hawai'i and other Pacific island locations.
Spotlight on Research
Learn more about how researchers are tracking how rare plants are responding to changing environmental conditions.
Plant ResponsesFeatured Scientist
PIERC Microbiologist Dr. Carter Atkinson is using new tools to detect emerging threats and rare species in Pacific Island ecosystems.
Atkinson ResearchNews
Keeping Track of "Caly"
Caly isn't likely to wonder off off, but with a remote camera and monitoring station online 24-hours a day, USGS and partners at the State of Hawai‘i Division of Forestry and Wildlife, University of Hawai‘i, and the USFWS can learn how an extremely rare plant is responding to changes in environmental conditions.
Sniffing Out Better Tools for Addressing Avian Botulism
Dogs have great olfactory abilities and wildlife biologists think they can help endangered waterbirds in Hawai‘i. Dogs are being trained to sniff out the endangered ducks (koloa maoli (Anas wyvilliana) and Laysan ducks (A. laysanensis)) that die of avian botulism.
Hawaiian Birds Rapidly Colonize Young Restoration Forest
Forest birds on the island of Hawaii are responding positively to being restored in one of the largest, ongoing reforestation projects at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, according to a new study released July 10 in the journal Restoration Ecology.
Publications
The evolving threat of rapid Ohia death (ROD) to Hawaii’s native ecosystems and rare plant species
Hawai‘i’s most widespread native tree, ‘ōhi‘a lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), has been dying across large areas of Hawai‘i Island mainly due to two fungal pathogens (Ceratocystis lukuohia and Ceratocystis huliohia) that cause a disease collectively known as Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death (ROD). Here we examine patterns of positive detections of...
Fortini, Lucas B.; Kaiser, Lauren R.; Keith, Lisa; Price, Jonathan; Hughes, R. Flint; Jacobi, James D.; Friday, J. B. Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus) activity and prey availability at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
We examined habitat use and foraging activity of the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus), as well as nocturnal aerial insect abundance at Kaloko-Honōkohau National Historical Park located in the coastal region of Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i Island. We evaluated bat activity in two habitat types, wooded shorelines beside brackish...
Montoya-Aiona, Kristina; Pinzari, Corinna A.; Bonaccorso, Frank J Seasonality and prevalence of pollen collected from Hawaiian nectarivorous birds
Hawaiian nectarivorous forest birds play a vital ecological role as pollinators in Hawaiian ecosystems. However, little is known about what nectar resources are utilized by Hawai‘i’s nectarivorous birds, how seasonality influences nectar availability, and how nectar preference differs by bird species. We sampled pollen from the heads of ‘i‘iwi (...
van Dyk, Kathryn; Paxton, Kristina L.; Hart, Patrick J.; Paxton, Eben H.